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Viral video of the new SENSUS Smart Guitar


Fender So-Cal custom design Stratocaster from 2005

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This is the first time I'd seen this Korean made So-Cal Fender Stratocaster.

It's not really something I'm into, but it is a unique piece worthy of mention here on Guitarz. I've not had the time yet to look it up, I wonder if they only did a Strat this way. Perhaps there's an offset or a Tele that could change my mind on the design.

R.W. Haller

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Amazing Tele-Strat hybrid 50/50 guitar from Rafael Villanova Bazaga

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Can't decide between a Strat and a Tele? Maybe you want a guitar that's a bit of both? One answer would be this offering from Spanish luthier Rafael Villanova Bazaga which is quite literally half-Telecaster and half Stratocaster right down to the half-tremolo on the Strat side! The attention to detail is quite something. Check out his other guitar and bass creations on the Bazage Guitars website.

[Thanks to Antony Moggridge of Shonky Guitars for the heads up on this one!]

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

1979 MusicMan Sabre fretless bass guitar

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Here we see a beautiful example of the rarely seen, and some would say more aesthetically pleasing, sibling of the Stingray bass guitar, the MusicMan Sabre. This fretless example features two of MusicMan's own now legendary design pickups as opposed to the Stingray's single unit and also boasts its own unique preamp design, with Bass and Treble EQ knobs for both boost and cut, as well as a bright switch and a phase reversal switch, making for an incredibly versatile instrument. According to the seller's blurb, "the classic alder and maple tone wood combination [gives] this bass has a bell-like upper midrange and warm pleasing low end that translates well through the pickups, while the preamp allows you to dial in plenty of treble zing, or as much warm pillowy low end as you'd need, while also allowing you to dial back the bass for a tight, cutting, well defined sound."

Dating from 1979 means that this bass probably pre-dates Ernie Ball's acquisition of the Music Man company which happened at around this time. Certainly the headstock does not have the Ernie Ball logo (see pics above). The Sabre would have been designed by Leo Fender and Forrest White, who also designed MusicMan's other early period instruments, and the Sabre bass itself was produced between 1978 and 1991, but apparently was not a big seller.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $2,299.99.

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Chinese counterfeit super bizarrely shaped thing labelled BC Rich

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Words fail me!

OK, I'll try harder.

I saw this earlier on Aliexpress.com (via Facebook). For those not in the know, Aliexpress is one source of Chinese-made counterfeirt guitars, copies of Fenders, Gibsons, Rickenbackers (often dubbed Chenders, Chibsons and Chickenbackers) amongst others such as Gretsch, BC Rich, Ibanez, etc. Occasionally they have an original design or two, perhaps a hybrid guitar based on a particular brand but which never existed. And then there are things like the above pictured guitar, mad designs of their own. In this case they've cheekily put the BC Rich logo on the headstock (yhe headstock itself has the barest amount of shaping from the basic paddle blank shape). You can imagine the thinking here: "Oh, BC Rich do some wacky shaped guitars, just put their logo on it."

Poor ol' Bernardo Chavez Rico must be spinning in his grave.

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Hotflush Spaceking - Chinese Stratty thing from Aliexpress.com

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Chinese Firebird Stratty thing photo Chinese Firebird Stratty thing - 1_zpsa2xpwvkc.jpgChinese Firebird Stratty thing photo Chinese Firebird Stratty thing - 3_zps9ha23la7.jpgChinese Firebird Stratty thing photo Chinese Firebird Stratty thing - 2_zpsgmkgs5il.jpgChinese Firebird Stratty thing photo Chinese Firebird Stratty thing - 4_zpswga5oisr.jpg

Here's another find from Aliexpress.com, something that the seller is calling a "Firebird" but which surely owes much more to the ever popular Fender Stratocaster. It's as if they've taken the design of the Strat, flipped it over, then started cutting bits out. Almost. When I first saw a thumbnail photo, I thought the guitar had an incorrect and far too large pickguard on it; I didn't appreciate the shape until I took a closer look.

You know what? I think I quite like it. Of course, the proof of the pudding will be in how it actually handles and plays. This example is listed at a price that equates to £131.32 here in the UK. However, it's always worth checking other sellers prices on Aliexpress because they can vary wildly.

The name on the headstock here, by the way, is Hotflush Spaceking, but I wouldn't be surprised if the same guitar was also being branded with different names elsewhere,

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

R.I.P. Scotty Moore Guitarist For Elvis Presley 1931-2016

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Scotty and Elvis photo Scotty and Elvis_zpsvstlsd68.jpg

Sad news, Scotty Moore has passed away aged 84.

I just a few moments ago read a comment about him on Facebook written by a guy called Mark Wilson (no relation to Yours Truly):
Met him once, and he autographed my Hofner Committee. I thanked him for inventing rockabilly and he said "It was no big deal". Very gentle and courteous.
More...

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Hohner EGS Ergonomic Guitar from 2007

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I must have missed when Mr. Wilson posted the Black Hawk version of the Hohner EGS guitar. I'm sure I would have remembered seeing something like this before.

Though it's not really to my taste, I can see this 2007 Hohner EGS being appealing to some players. It has a lot of decent hardware including Schaller Locking tuners, Ebony fretboard, and shadow piezo pickup. It also has an adjustable aluminium wing for ease of play. If it's detachable it could help make this a decent travel guitar, but at $1500 that would be a very pricy traveller.
R.W. Haller


© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Gretsch 7506 Acoustic guitar from 1972 with an unusual bridge.

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This Gretsch 7506 initially caught my eye as it was not what I think of when I see the words "Gretsch" and "Acoustic" together. I'm used to the more ubiquitous triangular sound-hole that I thought was common to all of their flattop offerings. 

Again, I stand corrected.

Here we have a very traditional folk acoustic guitar. This Made in the USA guitar has a couple of Gretsch hints, the headstock, the back access panel to the truss adjustment, and the 3 piece sadd..................le......what? Is? Going on?

Apparently I'd never seen the Tri-Saddle that they used on their acoustic guitars in the early 1970s. Is this extremly rare, or have i just missed it all these years?

Currently listyed for $1000 Canadian dollars.

R.W. Haller

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Norma EG-200 Teisco Split pickup guitar from the 1960s

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We've looked at this awesome made in Japan Norma before on Guitarz, but I thought it was worth another look since this one recently popped up on eBay.

I love the pickup selector on this split pickup guitar. I think every option is there, including All Off. And that tremolo is, for lack of a better word, epic.

R.W. Haller

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Gemelli. An Incredible original offset Italian guitar from 1964

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This Italian beauty caught my eye. I feel Ive seen a similar guitar but I cannot quite recall where. Made by Gemelli ( Italian for "twins" as it was a company founded by twin brothers) in 1964 this offset 4 pickup wonder has all the elements of a vintage Italian guitar. Glitter finish and rocker ( or are they push button? ) switches help to complete the overall package of awesomeness that is this guitar. The funky tremolo is just icing on the cake.

Currently listed at $1600 Canadian.

R.W. Haller

Edit: I knew I'd seen a similar guitar before. Check out this red Bartolini.


© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Yamaki AY-361. A 1970s Japanese acoustic with a maple fretboard.

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I've played a few Yamaki guitars and have always been pleased with them. I even took an old entry level one with a broken headstock and turned it into a Mandocello of sorts. It sounded great. This Yamaki AY-361 is unique to me in that it has a maple fretboard. I'd only ever seen this on older Ibanez and,  if I recall correctly, ElDegas guitars. I'm not shocked to see it here as Yamaki origins are similar to the others.

Currently listed at $600 Canadian.

R.W. Haller

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Anjo Guitar from the 1980s. Pointy madness that could only be 1980s

The BEANO official merchandise Dennie The Menace Guitar from John Hornby Skewes

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Ah, seeing this Dennis The Menace official licensed BEANO guitar takes me right back to my junior school years, where I spent many happy hours reading comics, of which The Beano was my favourite. This BEANO guitar has been issued by John Hornby Skewes, they of UK budget brands Encore and Vintage. The headstock is the same shape as used on Vintage branded Les Paul style guitars. Very cool indeed. I've seen it priced as high as £180 but this example I found on eBay is a very reaonable £115 including free postage within the UK.

For confused Stateside readers, I'd better quickly explain that the UK and USA both have their own completely separate cartoon characters called Dennis The Menace. Coincidentally both cartoon characters made their comic debuts in the year 1951.

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Heartfield RR-59 Made by Fender in Fujigen Factory 1992

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We looked at Heartfield guitars once before with this RR-58 and I mentioned that I would love to see it in green ( it's kind of a thing for me, green guitars ) and lo and behold here we have a green Heartfield RR-59.

I think it looks incredible.

I've yet to get my hands on a Heartfield guitar but given the quality level of guitars coming out of Japan at the time I can only assume it plays as good as it looks.

Currently on eBay for $699 U.S.

R.W. Haller







© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Rare Burns Steer from the early 2000s. Possible prototype.

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Thanks to Bill Lovegrove on the facebook Burns Guitars and Amplifiers page for posting this Burns Steer

This rare and possible prototype guitar looks like the love child of a regular Steer and a Brian May signature Red Special. Burns was producing both models at the time so the intermingling was quite likely. 

Though the body, neck,  and headstock are those of a cutaway Steer, the floating tremolo, Burns Trisonic pickups, and switching are very much Brian May. I wonder if the pickups are wired in series as on the Brian May model.

Currently listed in South Africa. 

I wonder if the seller will ship to Canada.

R.W. Haller

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Great looking Hayman 3030 appears to be all original.

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The internet is killing me today.

Look at this Hayman 3030. This beauty is in great shape and to my eye appears to be all original too. I have a 3030 that i picked up last year, but wouldn't it be nice to have 2?

This auction is ending in 10hrs as I write this so you have only that long (or as long as my resolve to not click on bid can last) to get in on one of these for a very reasonable price in my opinion.

R.W. Haller (backing away slowly from the internet for the rest of the day)


© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Greg Lake: King Crimson and ELP star dies aged 69

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2016 has been an extraordinarily bad year for our favourite musicians passing away, and now I'm sorry to learn that Greg Lake has died.

No doubt we'll be hearing his 1975 solo hit "I Believe In Father Christmas" over this festive season; although not explicitly about Christmas it's one of the better records to be categorised by many as such, but now will be tinged with sadness.

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Odd Reverse Jazzmaster with a giant "why?"

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As a fan of Jazzmasters this reverse parts-made beast caught my eye. Would we call it a Reverse Partsmaster? Generally I'm pretty ambivalent when it comes to reverse bodies on guitars. Sometimes it works while other times, not so much.

This falls in the "not so much" category. The inclusion of the Samick neck and the crudeness of some of the woodworking doesn't help the case for this poor guitar.

And, most glaringly, the output jack. How......what.....why? 

The seller is aware of the complete stupidity of this jack location and has decided to sell it as it is. 

So, there's that at least

R.W. Haller


© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Status Quo's Rick Parfitt passes away

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Yet more very sad news in a year that has seemed crueller than usual to some of our most beloved musicicans. The latest to be taken from us is Rick Parfitt of Status Quo. He'd recently made the decision to quit playing live shows with Quo, and wasn't too keen on their recent preference for acoustic-biased material. He was however looking ahead to 2017 with a solo album and autobiography planned.

More>>

G L Wilson

© 2016, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.
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